Content Section

Homegrown Terrorists

The Henry Jackson Society has produced an important new report on American-citizen terrorists, and Eli Lake got the scoop.

In 1997, a Sudanese man named Jamal Ahmed al-Fadl became the first person to plead guilty in the United States to offenses related to being part of al Qaeda. Between al-Fadl’s conviction and the end of 2011, 170 other individuals have been convicted by American courts or military commissions for committing crimes on behalf of, or inspired by, the organization responsible for the 9-11 attacks. A new study finds that a majority of these operatives were American citizens. Nearly a quarter were converts to Islam. More than half had completed some form of college course work.

You Might Also Like

About the Author

Author headshot

David Frum

David Frum is a contributing editor at Newsweek and The Daily Beast and a CNN contributor. He is the author of eight books, including most recently the e-book WHY ROMNEY LOST and his first novel Patriots, published in April 2012.

Don't Miss Our Best Stuff!

FrumForum Now

Fewer Homeless, a Bush Legacy

Fewer Homeless, a Bush Legacy

Keeping Track Here

Gun Violence in America

The Assassin's Gun: Internet Liberty Gone Way Too Far

The Assassin's Gun: Internet Liberty Gone Way Too Far